Five IRL Drivers Picked for IROC

Al Unser Jr., tied with the late Dale Earnhardt with a record 11 International Race of Champions victories, will drive in the all-star series for the 15th time.

Only Earnhardt, who competed in IROC for 17 seasons, has driven more years.

"When I got the invitation, of course I accepted it," said Unser, a two-time IROC champion and one of five drivers representing the Indy Racing League in this year's series.

Other IRL drivers who will compete in IROC this year are Helio Castroneves, last year's Indianapolis 500 winner; Sam Hornish Jr., the 2001 IRL champion; and former IRL champions Buddy Lazier and Scott Sharp.

Seven other drivers from CART and NASCAR will be chosen later for the series of four races in identically prepared stock cars.

The IROC races will be on Feb. 15 at Daytona International Speedway, April 27 at California Speedway, July 13 at Chicagoland Speedway and Aug. 3 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.